When it’s time to look for a new furnace, there are a number of things you should consider before making a conclusion on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first things you need to consider is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America use natural gas, but some houses are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s critical to know which type of fuel is needed for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to determine which type of furnace you’d prefer to appropriately meet your needs. Furnaces are available in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat continually at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency among these options. A two-stage furnace works well for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace operates at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating boost on the frigid Pflugerville days. But if you want to go for the ultimate choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
Unlike single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a specific number of stages to go through to create heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually work at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to factor in a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another consideration. You could save money by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you normally use, rather than trying to keep the entire home at the same temperature. If you want more information about zoning possibilities for your home, Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning can help.
Size
Another key part of selecting the best furnace for your home is ensuring it’s the right size for your home. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy incessantly cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to keep up on the coldest Pflugerville days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating represents the ratio of annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total annual fossil fuel energy it consumes. For example, an 80 percent AFUE rating means that 80 percent of energy in the fuel heats the home and the other 20 percent gets out through places like the furnace venting. For a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll want to look for an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, it helps to do some research when looking for a replacement furnace. But, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself. Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning is here to answer all of your questions and help you select a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Chat with our technicians at 512-355-1482 or arrange an appointment with us online.